Graham makes campaign stop in Spartanburg

Thursday

May 8, 2014 at 10:51 PM

To hear U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham talk about the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together – and, just for good measure, the need for comprehensive immigration reform – one might forget that he's facing six challengers on the right in next month's primary election.

By JASON SPENCERjason.spencer@shj.com

To hear U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham talk about the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together – and, just for good measure, the need for comprehensive immigration reform – one might forget that he's facing six challengers on the right in next month's primary election.Graham said he couldn't even name them all. Speaking to a packed house of about 300 people at the Cleveland Park event center in Spartanburg on Thursday night, South Carolina's senior senator seemed to embrace the very things conservative activists have used to target him.“I'm not asking you to abandon conservatism. I'm asking you to understand the consequences of losing,” he said, before condemning the Affordable Care Act, the shrinking of the U.S. military and what he called efforts to make this country a “European-style, socialist” state. “I'm not a perfect candidate, but I'm a winning candidate,” he said. “And if I have to pick between my country and my party, I'm going to put my country first.”Graham, a Baptist, ended on a somber tone, almost as if he was about to ask people to come up to the front of the room to pray. He seemed to be in his element, comfortable to be at an event where people weren't walking out at the first mention of working across the aisle. He sprinkled humor in his comments, calling the Jockey Lot in Anderson County “a good place to get stolen goods,” claiming he only got an 800 on the SAT – “both parts” – and, while lamenting this country's $17 trillion debt, saying, “The American Dream used to be owning your own house. Now, it's getting your kids out of your house.”By show of hands, he took a quick poll of how many Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics and Methodists were in the room. And he threw in a Strom Thurmond anecdote to top it off.Graham talked about the need to grow the Republican Party, saying a large number of Hispanics are against abortion and that many black people favor traditional marriage. He talked about growing up “in the back of a restaurant, pool room and liquor store,” adding that neither of his parents graduated high school. The Central native said he would never forget where he came from.“How many of you would like to be for something, and not just against everything?” he asked, to another show of hands. He suggested the party draw up a contract with America to spell out what it supports.Former Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet introduced Graham on Thursday, saying, “He lives and breathes the things that Spartanburg needs to live and breathe.”The Spartanburg stop was the 18th such campaign event in the past few weeks. Graham has drawn crowds ranging from 75 people to 600 at free barbecue dinners, Southern suppers and breakfast meet-and-greets all over the state. Cuz & Big Boy out of Landrum provided barbecue for the Spartanburg event.Campaign Manager Scott Farmer said sponsors usually help cover the cost of the venues, but the events typically lose money. “It's totally worth it,” he said, listing the campaign signs, bumper stickers and other campaign paraphernalia supporters leave each event with.This month, the Graham campaign announced 5,200 precinct captains across South Carolina and nearly 180 co-chairmen working in all 46 counties. Graham said it was the most volunteers his campaign has ever seen.“People, even when they disagree with me, understand that I'm trying to do what's best for the party,” he told the Herald-Journal. “I'm embracing Ronald Reagan. I'm embracing conservatism that will sell to a wider audience. And I'm embracing the fact that if our country doesn't get its act together, we're going to lose our very way of life.”Graham's six Republican opponents – which include state Sen. Lee Bright in Roebuck – together have raised about $2.5 million, less than half of what the incumbent has collected by himself, according to the Southern Political Report. Graham's campaign ended the first quarter of 2014 with nearly $7 million cash on hand.“He has the experience,” Spartanburg County Council member Jane Hall said. “I do not think that this is the time for us to bring in a freshman senator. We need someone who has the wherewithal, who has stood his ground, and who has earned the respect of his fellow congressmen.”

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